Microsoft’s Annual Developer Conference (MSBuild) brought some exciting announcements from the company this week, but none more exciting than those which focused on artificial intelligence.

Aside from announcements on better options for phone syncing, their increased support of its developer community, and the return of a cloud-based Kinect, other developments from Microsoft show where they believe the future lays for the company: AI.
One announcement showed the solidification of a previous partnership: Microsoft and Amazon promoting the integration of each other’s virtual assistants. Theoretically, Cortana can now be accessed on an Amazon Echo and Alexa on a Microsoft Surface. While these integrations are still in beta, consumers will more than likely see them in the wild by the end of the year.
Other big news is Microsoft’s continued commitment to accessibility and how they think AI will help it. The company has established a $25 million fund which will go to developers, universities, non-governmental organizations who develop and use AI to improve the lives of people with disabilities at work, home, or when communicating with others.
Wysdom At MSBuild 2018
Terrific session! @WysdomAI‘s strong #AI and industry expertise makes Microsoft+Wysdom the ideal solution for #telco automated customer care #chatbot #MSBuild https://t.co/9z5xIHhq2A https://t.co/9tcPL9MZ6J
— Microsoft Telco (@MSFTTelco) May 8, 2018
Wysdom was also on the floor at MSBuild. CTO Karthik Balakrishnan spoke to delegates on the topic of AI-training and how Wysdom leverages Microsoft’s AI tools, integrating them into parts of its Cognitive Services and Exchange.
Wysdom’s Karthik Balakrishnan kicking things off at #MSBuild 2018. Say hi or reach out to our chief 📸🦉and VP Sales @arifhirani on the floor. pic.twitter.com/XPDhrcQxQ9
— Wysdom.AI (@WysdomAI) May 7, 2018
Want to hear more about the great things Wysdom and Microsoft are doing? Wysdom CEO Ian Collins is speaking at TechTO’s Microsoft AI: Empower Innovation for All event – a meeting of the top AI minds in Canada. Limited tickets are still available for the June 5 event at MaRS Discovery District in Toronto.